Author: News Room

A few days after Metamask and Mastercard came together to launch a pilot program for a crypto debit card in the US, crypto purists are not having it. A large section is criticizing the move, saying that it undermines the ethos of cryptocurrency. With the debit card, users can spend directly from their Metamask wallets, simplifying crypto transactions. They can convert their crypto into fiat currency in real-time as they transact through Linea, a speedy layer-2 network from Ethereum. Disgruntled crypto stakeholders raise concerns The launch of the Metamask debit cards has raised serious concerns among crypto users. They argue…

Welcome back to our Sunday edition, a roundup of some of our top stories. You’ve likely heard the term “supercommuter,” but you might have wondered… why? Someone who does it from Washington, DC, to NYC admits she’s not sure the job is worth the commute. Still, she’s not regretting doing it.On the agenda today:But first: Blackstone’s feeling festive.If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Download Insider’s app here.Some warmth from a Blackstone Blackstone released its annual holiday video for the seventh consecutive year, which might elicit the reaction: Why is a firm managing $1 trillion worried about holiday…

Kelly Okrepkie, 47, lives in Monroe, Connecticut and loves Christmas. She started decorating Christmas trees in her house in 2011, with the goal to have one in each room.She now has 13 Christmas trees that she decorates every year. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kelly Okrepkie. It has been edited for length and clarity.I love Christmas.When I was little my mom worked at a department store and I would always walk by their Christmas trees and think, “I want this when I grow up.”I started with my first tree when I got married in 2011. Then…

Investing.com — Saudi Arabia’s financial markets face a challenging outlook as the nation grapples with the prospect of an “oil winter.”  Analysts at BCA Research argue that the kingdom’s economy, still deeply tied to revenues, is vulnerable to anticipated declines in global oil prices and slowing nominal growth.  While efforts under Vision 2030 have bolstered domestic demand through diversification, the broader economic picture remains precarious. Over the past year, Saudi Arabia has made strides in reducing its dependence on oil exports, evidenced by a 4.4% growth in real domestic demand despite declining oil revenues.  Infrastructure investments and borrowing, both domestically…

Dog-themed cryptocurrency Shiba Inu (SHIB) has seen its price drop from recent highs. Shiba Inu fell significantly in the past week amid broader caution in risk assets. Following a four-day drop, Shiba Inu rebounded from lows of $0.0000185 in Friday’s session, extending the recovery to highs of $0.000024 in Saturday’s session. The rebound met resistance at this key level, and it began to lose strength. The majority of crypto assets are currently trading in the red, as Bitcoin dipped in the early Sunday session after nearing the $100,000 level. Bitcoin’s decline drove down other cryptocurrencies, and Shiba Inu was no…

Colleen Hoover has thrown her support behind Blake Lively after Lively filed a lawsuit against Justin Baldoni.The “It Ends With Us” author said Lively had been “nothing but honest” since they first met.Lively sued Baldoni for sexual harassment. Baldoni’s attorney said the claims were “categorically false.”Colleen Hoover, the bestselling author of “It Ends with Us,” has thrown her support behind Blake Lively after Lively sued her costar, Justin Baldoni, for sexual harassment, retaliation, and coordinating attempts to damage her reputation.In an Instagram Stories post, Hoover linked out to a New York Times report on the situation and wrote: “@blakelively, you…

Demand for AI skills is expected to grow in 2025, driven by tech and non-tech firms.Tech industry hiring could rebound after several slow years, driven by demand for AI skills.AI skills are often scarce, with high vacancy rates for roles like natural language processing.People and companies are placing big bets on artificial intelligence. One of the safer ones is that demand for workers with AI skills will continue to grow.Labor market watchers told Business Insider that in 2025, as in 2024, many employers will likely be eager to hire people with skills in AI — like machine-learning specialists who train…

Investing.com — A second Trump administration is likely to see little change in the U.S. fiscal deficit, despite campaign promises of tax cuts and spending programs, according to UBS strategists. “An already high deficit will force compromise on tax cuts and spending pledges, and we think corporate tax cuts are unlikely in the absence of much higher tariff income,” the team led by Jason Draho said in a note. The U.S. government deficit currently exceeds 7.5% of GDP, while the debt-to-GDP ratio has climbed past 120%. UBS notes that while a debt crisis is not imminent due to the reserve…

The MultiversX Foundation has recently launched Growth Games, the latest initiative. It is a groundbreaking $1.5M annual grant program. It is designed to boost the terms of innovation in blockchain and AI. This initiative aims to empower startups, developers, and teams. By doing this, the ambitious program wants to create transformative solutions in key areas like DeFi, AI, and education. Setting the scene for the 2025 MultiversX ecosystem expansion by providing builders with resources and support to make it BIG.Growth Games provides $1.5M in funding, mentorship, and more to blockchain and AI teams and projects. — Multiversᕽ (@MultiversX) December 20,…

Aditya Challapally teaches a Stanford Online course on generative AI for tech-adjacent professionals.Challapally explained how individuals can skill up technically or become an AI domain expert.He also said using tools like ChatGPT or Claude can help people understand AI better.This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Aditya Challapally, a 30-year-old Microsoft employee who teaches a course for Stanford Online about generative AI. This story has been edited for length and clarity.I started working in AI about a decade ago. I started as a data science intern at Uber, then did AI consulting at McKinsey, and later joined Microsoft,…